Working Together, Saving Lives

Over the past few years, Maricopa County Animal & Control has made measurable progress in the overarching mission to save lives. Now, we are taking the next step in our long-term plan to find permanent homes for more animals.

The current east shelter, located at Rio Salado and Loop 101, does not meet nationally-accepted standards of care nor our own high standards. The shelter, as is, cannot meet the county’s long-term needs and expansion at the present location is not feasible. As a result, the county explored the possibility of consolidating all shelter services at the centrally-located shelter near I-17 and Durango. During the design process, it became clear that trying to expand the existing facility would present too many obstacles to be a viable long-term solution.

In the end, county leaders believe a multiple-shelter solution—so long as it includes a replacement for the current east shelter—will be better for animal welfare and the customer experience. Therefore, current plans call for building a new East Valley facility while improvements to the Durango shelter continue to be considered. This approach will help us increase the quality of care we provide, reduce the length of stay for animals, and improve the experience for customers who want to adopt.